Mention robotic technology and many people think of science fiction, but a new type of surgery has huge benefits for modern patients.

This spring orthopedic surgeon Suresh Nayak was the first doctor in Ohio to perform a total knee replacement using a robotic-assisted arm.The surgical procedure was demonstrated March 7 at Mercy Health - Anderson Hospital.

TheMako, which is named after the company which manufactured it, is a surgeon-controlled robotic arm that assists the doctor with an accurate alignment and placement of knee implants.

Although partial knee replacement has already been accomplished using this system of surgery, this is the first time it was used in a full knee replacement.

"It's a game changer," Nayak said. "When you come from manual instrumentation to this, it is a huge leap."

Buy Photo

Orthopedic surgeon Suresh Nayak demonstrates how to use the Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery system. He calls the technology "a game changer" in performing total knee replacement surgery.(Photo: The Enquirer/Forrest Sellers)

Prior to surgery, the robotic arm is programmed with a 3-D model of the patient's knee.

"We can do a virtual surgery before entering the operating room," Nayak said.

The 3-D model is then used by Nayak in guiding the robotic arm during surgery.

It allows for almost unmatched accuracy when installing a knee implant and also allows for absolute precision when removing dead bone or tissue in the knee, according to Nayak.

"(I can) sleep at night knowing that I couldn't have done the surgery any better," Nayak said, adding that these improvements in technology have made a huge difference in the operating room.

The surgery is as precise as it could possibly be, he said.

As of May, Nayak had done more than 30 full-knee replacements using the robotic arm.